(Photo: Sanctuary Photography)
34. I’m turning a glorious 34 this year, right about now.
It’s going to be a great natal year–-I can already feel it. Perhaps it will be good luck for you, too: in this post, I’m giving away a round-trip ticket anywhere in the world.
But back to that strange birthday gift…
Much to the chagrin of my momma-san, I’ve become quite difficult to buy presents for. Some friends even think I’m impossible to find presents for.
It’s not entirely true. I love handwritten letters, home-made brownies (like Fred Wilson), girlfriends dressed in next to nothing, and–-most of all-–when people do something nice for others.
In lieu of gifts this year, my birthday wish is to help the poorest kids in the world learn to read. I believe literacy, and the self-determinism it allows, is fundamental to solving the problems of this world. Want an alternative to extremist terrorist schools, to have fewer welfare states, or to prosper with better economies? Teach people to read and help themselves…
On a personal level: can you imagine never having read a book? Never being able to satisfy your intellectual curiosity? That’s unacceptable.
Since I am turning 34 this year, if you feel so inclined, please help me build a library for children through Room to Read by donating $34 (or whatever you can) to my donation page (give it a minute to load). Readers on this blog have already changed the world in real, significant ways, like this school in Vietnam that you all built!
A stand-alone library costs just $20,000 and can provide the educational foundation for multiple generations of kids. Here are two additional kickers:
– If you all help raise $20,000, I will personally foot the bill for another $20,000 library.
– I will put the names of the top 20 donors (and one person below) on dedication plaques placed on each library, 10 people per library. These are real libraries that will be finished in 2013, which you can see with your own eyes. It’s an incredible feeling you’ll never forget.
If we don’t reach $20,000, the funds will still go to Room to Read directly for building schools. If we raise more than $20,000, all extra funds will go to building more schools.
Beyond the good karma, I’ll add another incentive to act now: a free round-trip ticket anywhere in the world that Star Alliance flies, which is just about everywhere. There is no expiration date on the trip, so no rush on deciding where or when to go. Here’s how it works:
No later than 11:59pm PST this Sunday, July 31st:
– Spread the word however you can. Send people to this post or to my library page.
– Leave a comment below telling me what you did (Facebook, Twitter, e-mail blast, add to your e-mail signature, encourage employees/friends to do the same, etc.). Measurement of any type gets huge bonus points.
– Lastly, answer the following question at the top of your comment: “What does education mean to you?”
I’ll pick the top five promoters, and you’ll all vote on the winner of the round-trip. Easy peazy. This winner will also get his or her name on one of the school plaques as a top donor. Pretty sweet, right? Perhaps that’s where you’ll globetrot with your free round-trip ticket?
But the best reason of all…
Beyond the bribes, you’ll feel awesome about yourself for doing real good for little ‘uns who have so little, perhaps no future without education. Trust me.
Superman is not coming to help these kids, nor is the government–will you pause for a moment and step up for even two minutes? It would mean the world to me. I’ll share pictures and updates from first construction to opening day.
Again, here is where to go to donate $34, $1, $1,000, or whatever you can.
Thank you for reading this post. You are all rock stars, and I continue to write on this blog purely because of you.
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.
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This is a great cause to donate. Understanding while I read was one of the greatest assets I had to achieve my personal goals and I know that this makes a difference for others also. Thanks for showing me this Laura.
Education is creativity, it is without limit and without walls. Education happens in a classroom with a teacher, but it also happens at home, playing games and sports, living life, reading books, playing music. Education is about living and learning and growing, not about testing. Education is failing and trying again, trying better. Education is service. Education is what I’ve devoted my professional life to.
I posted your link on FB and sent an email to friends as well. I find it *interesting* that I finished reading your book and checked out your website only an hour before this ends…
Thank you for your wonderful gift to children!
What a great idea and nice gesture. Great finding out about this, and seeing that there are people who want to do positive things for others in this world. Keep up the great work.
Education is the freedom to soar, even if it’s only within your own mind.
I donated and shared on facebook. Happy Birthday and thanks for giving these kids a chance.
What does education mean to me?
Education, to me, is the highest leverage thing we can possibly do to solve the world’s problems.
When people are empowered with education, there is hope.
People can take education and they can do things with it. They can look for new solutions to problems in the world. They can learn to stand up for themselves. They can make change.
Most importantly, they can learn there’s another way instead of what they have now.
If you think about it, life is one huge white circle of possibility. So many people have problems that cause them to be hyper-focused on one tiny black speck in this HUGE infinite white circle, when they could be looking at such a bigger picture.
Education opens someone’s eyes to all of the infiniteness.
I know this because I went through it personally. I’ll give you a little bit of my back-story, not to get sympathy, but because it formed the reason why education is so huge for me. The quick version is: just a few years ago I was 100 pounds overweight, broke, and totally despondent.
I was sexually and physically abused throughout my childhood, hated myself so much that I wouldn’t brush my teeth or shower for weeks, and grew up thinking it was normal to be raped by my father. (This is EXTREMELY vulnerable for me to be sharing, by the way.)
When I was 14, my little 11 year old sister called me crying. She saw my father throw my mother’s head into a wall. Then he told my sister how she wasn’t really his daughter (untrue), and he tried to drive her and my mother into oncoming traffic. My sister had to reach through the center console and turn the wheel around.
I’m trying to keep this short, so I’ll just say things didn’t get better from there.
I honestly had no idea there was any other way besides the life I was living. I was focused on that black speck, not knowing about the huge infiniteness of possibilities in this world. I thought I’d forever be fat, with low self esteem, and no idea about how to stand up for myself.
EDUCATION is what saved my life. I came across a book called Secrets Of The Millionaire Mind. I never knew about personal development before and this totally shook my world up. The book led me into a 3 day seminar, and then a Warrior Camp, and countless more books.
That education taught me that it was possible to change my story.
I honestly didn’t know I could before that.
I learned that I could do anything I wanted to.
Since educating myself, I changed my life around completely. I’ve lost the 100 pounds, traveled to many places, and quit my dead-end retail job and started working for myself. I was a cover story in a magazine for my weight loss, was featured in a few magazines for my entrepreneurial skills, and wrote a book about meditation.
I’ve had so many people from my school days find me on Facebook and tell me they were blown away at the things I’ve accomplished. I think most people don’t know how much things can change. That’s why education is so crucial.
Of course, education isn’t just for people like me. Educating people in poor countries is literally their key to enhancing their lives and opening them up to other opportunities besides the ones they’re currently open to.
For example, a lot of little boys in Afghanistan aren’t able to go to school. They’re too busy trying to raise money for their family. Many boys end up entering the Taliban not because they believe in it, but because it pays.
That’s a TRAVESTY.
And that’s just one example. I’ve read so many stories about children who are forced to play small and live small lives… and also so many about the exceptions, with people who DID get to educate themselves and make their worlds so much better.
All of this to say… I am EXTREMELY passionate about education.
And since talk is cheap, I should point out that 2 weeks ago a friend and I raised $50,000 for underprivileged children in a school in an Indian Reservation in Arizona. I am so proud to know that the people who donated and I helped possibly re-write a child’s entire life.
You can read about it here if you like:
http://rachelrofe.com/how-we-raised-50k-in-less-than-10-hours-for-charity
I found out a little late about this contest but I still did my best to do several things to get the word out.
I wrote a blog post. I told my friends. I emailed it. I posted to Twitter, Facebook, my Facebook Page, Google Buzz, GTalk, LinkedIn, FriendFeed, and Flickr. I posted about it in an online forum.
I also ran a campaign and paid people $.30 per click to come over and check it out. I figured this would be a way to broaden my reach and hopefully get others spreading the word too. Hopefully the money I spent translated into thousands of dollars for the library.
You can track how many clicks I’ve been able to bring over by going to this specific link: https://bitly.com/donateforlibrary+ (make sure to keep the + at the end). That link will give you stats on how many people came, and from where. I sent most people to my blog post first.
Thank you very much for this opportunity, happy birthday, and congratulations for raising all the money you did. 🙂
Happy birthday! What a great idea 🙂
If these libraries or your schools include computer/internet access, we’d be thrilled to provide free licenses to the students so they can build their vocabulary in a totally personalized fashion.
We will soon launch a usage-focused mode, which is especially awesome for English Language learners.
Right now every penny I own (and some that I don’t own) go into this grand new upgrade, so no big checks from me this time around.
Something tells me that this is not your last project of this kind 😉
Always fun and inspiring to see what you’re coming up with!
What an amazing idea! Rachel925, if you know her, let me know about this.
Fabulous idea, and I can’t wait to hear more about it! TY
I just want to take a second to thank you. I would’ve never found out about this cause without you.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
mine is July 30th, turned the old age of twenty…..wait for it…………three, what are the odds….. and don’t answer that
my friend was telling me about this, i just thought i would come by and say HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Hi Tim! !Feliz cumpleanos! I made a donation for the school you are building. Way to go!!
Happy Birthday 34th birthday! Just made your deadline for donation, wasnt able to broadcast because i just got back from a long adventure in the woods. Tim, thank you for continually being outstanding. Thank you for taking your role of influence and always making it count.
“The most valuable of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it has to be done, whether you like it or not.”
– Aldous Huxley
Seemed fitting. Just finished rereading “A Brave New World”. Reading is so important. It breaks barriers of many sorts beyond social, racial, or a just a fixed idea and crosses through thresholds both internal and external outside that of both personal, social, and global bounds bringing us past the place of what we thought possible into worlds of promise and imagination. It reminds us the importance of our past. It forewarns us of immanent futures and has the ability to paint a brighter reality for a greater tomorrow. Reading connects us on a level beyond space and time while simultaneously sparking higher levels of autonomy. Just as it did for the savage in Huxley’s novel, its brings LIBERATION. AND, the library is a much better and more interesting place to meet girls (or boys) than a bar. ; )
good luck kids.
Q. What Does Education Mean To Me?
A. Self-determination. Education provides choices and the means to achieve those choices.
Forwarding you 100 copies of The Salaried Entrepreneur to distribute as you see fit! 🙂 Had purchased 160 copies with hard part being figuring out where best to place them. Actionablebooks.com states: Our inaugural Actionable Literacy Project is aptly titled, “The Salaried Entrepreneur”.
This is a DVD of 12 video interviews with 12 of the leading thinkers and best selling business authors of our time, discussing the content from their most recent books, and what it takes to be a successful individual in the 21st century.
For 25 bucks.
If that wasn’t good enough already, 100% of the profits from the sale of this DVD go to Room to Read – an organization dedicated to improving literacy and education rates globally.
It’s what we call a “win-win”.
It’s the realization that education is the best tool we have for adapting our minds, relationships and environment into an unpredictable future. It’s the spark that ignites the creativity inside of us, without the fear of hesitation
I came here from http://rachelrofe.com/giving-in-the-name-of-education. What an excellent idea this is! I’m lucky, I have a library on my doorstep. I can read to my heart’s content – and I know I would be lost without it. Education must be backed up by knowledge and one of the best ways is to foster a love of reading.
Congratulations on your birthday wish!
Awesome Tim! I made a donation for the school you are building. Way to go!!
how you appreciate it
Tim,
A very good human being you are. What ever you are doing for the good cause is appreciated. God always with you.
My friend told me about this. I was overwhelmed to hear this. Education is the only friend of isolation.
I just want to say “Happy birthday” and
thankful for letting me know about this noble cause.
Tim,
It’s been weighing on my mind a bit, but in the article I referred to in my last comment, I end with a plight to help me get books to a young girl I met in Myanmar. Circumstances prevent her from going to school, but she has a lot of potential. If possible, perhaps you can share or tweet the article to increase my chances of finding a traveller headed that way?
Here’s the link to the article again:
http://bit.ly/oSTROM
All the best,
Ki’une
What a great idea. Education is the most valuable thing that we can bequest our children and of great importance to all of us and libraries are of supreme importance to all of us. I found about your charity through Rachel Roffe at her website and I so glad I did. Keep it up, I shall be donating to your marvellous and inspiring work.
To me education means being able to improve your personal situation. Given nothing else, if all you have is an education, you have been empowered to live life to the fullest and the sky is the limit. With an education, we can all achieve our dreams!
you are doing a great job everyone need to appreciate this. Happy Birthday to you.
I know is late but just came across the post and took action, I made a donation and answer the question, here it go:
Education for me is the ability to gain freedom, to chose what we want after learning new knowledge, education is the choice to being able to seek new knowledge to become even better humans. In most cases I believe education increase communication between people and it might avoid having a fight. The more educate we are the more you can understand others and others can understand you.
I also posted your post in my Facebook!
By the way FELIZ CUMPLEÑOS!
Emilio
This is an awesome cause. This will truly be appreciated.
Recently, I was at my friends page, donateforlibrary , and I came across your page. You are such a generous person, you have no idea. I completely agree with how you said how no one is going to help them, in order for action to occur, we need to MAKE it happen. I can also see where everybody else is coming from. This post definately changed my view on this. Thank you for that.
Hey Tim,
Good on you man and thanks for letting me know about this cause.
I know this contest has ended, but thought I’d leave a comment anyway, so…you’re welcome. 🙂
I have had a rewarding, yet at times, tumultuous courtship with education and learning over past two and half decades, but have come to realize that knowledge is one of the most valuable and most taken-for-granted commodities we have. I believe that if you’re life is not spiraling up, it is spiraling down, and continuing to push the limits of self-development and attaining knowledge is key to spiraling upward. Though this upward spiraling of knowledge and self-betterment (which overflows to world-betterment) is not dependent on one’s ability to read, illiteracy is a HUGE obstacle. Learning to read opens an unlimited number of doors to progress for individuals and communities. I liken it to Tim’s Minimum Effective Dose idea from the 4HB – the smallest things can reap the largest, and in this case, limitless rewards.
Cheers all,
Dan
Just donated. Great strategy.
Maybe some day soon we’ll get rid of our corrupt income tax system and free up billions more to be donated directly to beneficiaries every day through free market strategies like this 😀
– Jeff
Hey Jeff,
What I do is call up Salvation Army ask what they are short on and buy gift certificates from the 5-6 stores they need most, therefore 100% goes to the kids this way (no admin fee’s, no corruption)
Happy birthday, and I admire your dedication to literacy. I just wanted to react briefly to your assertion that more literacy means less welfare states. The places with the highest literacy and best educational systems in the world are welfare states with large state expenditures on education (and many other sectors of the economy as well), such as the Nordic countries. The main reason for such abysmal social and economic conditions in many developing countries is that the government does not have the capacity and funds to develop and implement high quality educational, health-care, judicial and infrastructural systems. Besides corruption and mismanagement, one of the reasons for this state failure is the insistence of Western governments, through the IMF/WB/WTO, that these countries maintain a small state and do not spend too much money on social programs. Yet such spending, most importantly on education, is precisely what all these countries need.
The main difference between these countries and (formerly agrarian and backward) countries like South Korea, is that the countries developed an efficient bureaucracy and a wonderful educational systems. Private humanitarian efforts to improve literacy are surely very laudable and important, but the most crucial thing, likely to have the most impact, is to figure out how to induce developing countries’ bureaucracies to create, fund and efficiently run high-quality educational programs.
In this process, creative thinkers and entrepreneurs like yourself (and of course myself and the rest of your fans!) have a potentially very important role to play. Let’s say we get together a bunch of civil servants or former civil servants from the educational systems of countries like Finland and Germany or whatever, and form a private company that works with bureaucracies in developing countries to aggressively combat their literacy problems.
Think of India, where over 25% of the country’s billion people can’t read and write. The country has a government, but it’s never gotten around to really tackling illiteracy. We know it can be done. But countries probably won’t figure it out on their own, with the present trajectory of small humanitarian projects, private or publicly funded. We need something different, such as what I’ve described.
Of course, while a state needs to be strong enough to run a good educational system, it doesn’t necessarily need to have a lavish welfare state (though the countries with them in Northern Europe seem to be doing fine). And you’re certainly right that if everyone can read and write then there will probably be fewer people relying on state aid to survive.
Very Happy Birthday Tim! May all of your wishes come true. 😀
I’m late to the party and donated this morning. I love Room to Read! I’ll pass the link around.
Alles Gute und Liebe!
Natalie
Happy birthday Tim
I was too late to participate 🙁
Education means choice. Informed intelligent choice of where to live, how to live and what to do.
On another note Tim, with your interest in combat sports your should check out master instructor Geoff Todd, CQB teacher. World class and an amazing guy.
Regards
Owen
I just read this – so I am taking out my checkbook. Happy Birthday. Thanks for giving a shit.
It’s 2011 and 1 in 4 #women can’t read this sentence
http://owl.li/5SbbS
I love books and I love reading and I hope my small birthday present allows more children the opportunities I have had to explore the world through books. Knowledge is power. Thank you Tim and Happy Birthday!
Tim,
I’d still like to help, regardless of any prizes. I notice you already raised 26K! Wow. That is just tremendous. For those of us who would still like to donate, is the funding going to the same goal, or are you working on another idea that I should hold off on? Such great stuff.
Cheers,
Doc
Are the terms education, schooling and learning interchangeable? – an internet hunt to find out only got me more confused; in other words, they’re often used interchangeably. I then decided to look at the root of these words and their meanings. That was more helpful and allowed me to get some clarity; the following may still be wrong or inaccurate but hopefully it can serve as food for thought. Here’s the short of my interpretations:
Meaning of “Learning” – to acquire knowledge or be cultivated. This comes by experience or study.
Education – the etymology of the word was more insightful than any dictionary description. The word EDUCATE is from the latin EDUCO, which means “to draw out from within” or “bring out”.
An analogy I read is that education is like sculpting (the art is “drawn out” of the raw substance) while learning is more like painting (a projection or interpretation of an external image). The source is John Taylor Gatto though I couldn’t find the original quote; sorry.
What about schooling? – A school is a place of instruction, therefore, schooling is the process of instructing or teaching. Instruction, in turn, is to build or arrange. In other words, schooling is to acquire and develop skills useful in our society.
Observe that “reading” is a means to communicate what others are thinking or have thought. A great way to share experiences and life lessons. I think it can help any of us in the process of acquiring knowledge (learning), acquiring a new skill (schooling) or become inspired (education).
A simple and quick answer to education is the age-old adage: “know thyself”. Embrace living, the journey is an education.
Happy birthday Tim !
I think leading a stoic lifestyle aligns very well with the meaning of education I shared earlier. Love it !
This comment is for especially for Tim but for anyone who reads it.
But before I talk to everyone I wanna say to you Tim, what I’m feeling right now is that before I blow up I should pay tribute to one of the three people I’ve ever consciously modeled myself after in my 21 years of life. The first was Bruce lee, the second was Eben Pagan, and you were the most recent. My hair used to go down my back, but now it cut short like yours because I want to be like you.
I changed my mind about talking to everyone so to everyone else, you can see what I see in Tim and acknowledge the good things you see and feel as your positive qualities.
Positive qualities I see are too many too count but but we got a few words that we use for all of them. I’ma leave you with the one that’ll probly make the most sense – Love,.
Love is a state that we all know. Yes I meant it as a feeling state in a moment called acceptance. Love is undefinable, but as a word it is; so ima use is how I do to show you.
TIm: from my point of view – scares people by feeling love in scary situations, by accepting all the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as they happen while they happen. ex. in the random show you see tim lookin open, honest, listening, n eyes open. (probly even in sun glasses)
What’s scary to me? When I’m speaking my thoughts and I get interupted by something that’s out of my train of logic. Tim shows me that that’s no reason to flash. To be honest his friend on the Random Show stay blurting out words and saying things that would have me lookin away thinking that this guy really wants to be heard… but I’d only be thinking that because I want to be heard…
The biggest gift that Tim’s given me is the seed of testing assumptions.
}}}
I’ve changed and grown so much that I’ve been 51-50’d on multiple occasions and labelled a maniac.
}}}
The changes that concern you, Tim: I want to promote you in a way that likely hasn’t been done yet. For about 3-4 days I’ve been learning – testing the assumptions on how long it takes to good at singing and rapping. Thing about doing those two is that it’s something that’s picked up now not over a certain amount of time.
The assumption is that it’d take something around 10 years and a few hours every day to achieve the level of mastery that those making millions have. I blieve that it takes only belief, love, and focus. All learning is achieved now and I’m full of nows that were like music. Extending tones, emphasizing anuciation, and allowing yourself to hear it turns life into a musical.
– so i’m full of song and rap. All the pros do is put a structure on that to control and direct people’s attention.. I and my brother’ve been doing something like that and see millions coming our way.
So what i’ma do some day soon to promote you Tim is make a rap/rnb song and video dedicated to you just as a thanks for what you’ve awoken in me. Or have my big black brother Young Quan do it for/with me. He grew up with and knows some famous bay rappers like J. Stalin and Mistah Fab. I got some Asian partners that be making music videos, beats, and raps. So whenever I feel pressed and inspired to do this for you it’s a matter of 3 fone calls away from happening.
I’m not gonna be putting your name in my mouth to the world without your permission of course tho. cuz I know that I do things and I’m with people who’s behavior you may or may not condone. So if I caught your attention let me know. FB’s probly the best place.
I love this. I shared it on my FB page and profile and I tweeted it. Congrats on reaching well above and beyond the $20,000 goal. 🙂 That’s so cool that you’re using your influence to make a positive impact on the world. 🙂 That’s one of my life goals that I hope to achieve sooner than later, gain a strong influence so I can help others.
Too bad this wasn’t running longer, I was starting to scheme ideas on further ways to promote it, but on a positive note, it sure gave me a lot of promoting ideas that I can implement in the future. 🙂
Just bumped in to you, 2 days to late it seems 🙁
That is short notice ?
Good Luck !!!
Hi Tim,
I am a college student without a lot of extra money, but I do have quite a few books I’ve accumulated over the years. I’d be interested to donate my own books and also do a book drive. What is the best way I could go about doing that to best help your cause?
Thank you,
Erica
Tim,
I understand the contest is over but I am sure you like reading comments anyways.
“What does education mean to you?”
Well it does not mean the same thing that my professors at James Madison University (JMU) defined it as studying boring books, taking multiple choice tests, listening to monotone voices, staring at boring power points long enough to accumulate enough Credits to satisfy a degree that in this economy, will get you a entry level position at best or be a thorn in the side of most “University Graduates” every time they send that monthly loan payment check! In America you can pay for the title of “Education” and if you don’t pay you do not receive the title. Education is only valuable if you do something with it. When you receive a degree you should say you have been informed of a subject or of things previously unknown. The reason why I say this because education should be about initiative and a drive to become “educated” not just because you made it through university.
It similar to people that say they are worldly because their parents paid for a trip around Europe. Until those people immerse themselves in a culture or take the time to veer away from the beaten path they have just traveled but are not “worldly”.
Because I had the opportunity to be educated in the US and Canada I am able to read, write and speak English. The foundation of my education is invaluable. I cannot describe how fortunate and lucky I am to have been educated in North America. My foundation is strong and can withstand anything life throws at me except death of course. But because of my educational background I have the opportunity to do anything. With the opportunity to do anything means that I have no limitations. With no limitations my imagination can run wild and my dreams can become reality. I enjoy learning and becoming more educated on topics of interest or topics in which I do not have a vast understanding. Again, it is the foundation of the education I received that allows me to further and expand my thoughts, mental horizon, understanding, and my critical thinking ability. The more I learn, more information I accumulate, the more experiences I have the more valuable my education becomes. The value of my education has no ceiling and it always more and more meaningful to me the more I “DO”. Every time I “DO” something that is different from past experiences value is created.
I am only 26 and I am too young to give a lengthy and deep response to your question. I have not had the opportunity to educate someone the same way in which I have been educated to read, write and talk. However, I understand the absolute value in the education of all persons in this world. Over time my understanding of education will evolve into something that I do not recognize today but I know it will evolve. My education is still in its pre-school ears and will be forever changing. I look forward to learning, experiencing and embracing life.
Thanks,
Hans
Appears you have reached your goal! Congrats and Happy Birthday.
I’ve added and will do so more in the future.
Blessings.
Hi Tim,
I admire all the work you’ve done and continue to do, Not only are you very smart, Your very handsome.
I would love to meet you someday.
Terry Caldwell
Education = Opportunity
Facebook, Twitter and forcing friends and family to help out. 🙂
What a noble endeavor,I would also like to say that just as important as building a library is filling it with “nutritionally dense” books and not alot of fluff books that do not challenge the readers. I would recommend the classics of more than just one country (Indian classics,Chinese classics,etc.) as well as one that should be required reading
Love the call to action for a great cause. Cheers to your continued health, wealth, and wisdom Tim! -George-
Education means….never having to say, “would you like to biggie size that”.
I missed the deadline…but, I wanted to share my KISS on literacy……Literacy leads to perspective, perspective leads to awareness, awareness leads to opinion, opinion leads to choice, choice leads to yes, or no!
_______________________________
===== HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIM ======
_______________________________
Tim-
Well done. I missed your deadline…hopefully I didn’t miss the kids’ deadline. Great project. Look forward to seeing you at the Evernote Conference.
I appreciate all you have given to others’, Tim.
Here is a (belated?) happy birthday present back at ya, to help others get addicted to reading.
I wouldn’t be where I am today if my mother had not read to me before I could walk 😉
Cheers,
Dan
Hey Tim. Happy Birthday man.
I’d love to talk with you for 15 mins about your fundraising initiative. I’ve been working in this space for almost 10 years and Room to Read is using our tools to drive their online fundraising.
I’d love to get your insight on how to be an effective fundraiser based on your experience with this initiative.
15 mins … and we could find a way to make it benefit RtoR in some way.
Thanks for the consideration.
– frank
We are two weeks into the program (fat loss). We are a crew of three firefighters trying to get healthy at our age. Our driver, who is already fit and competes in triathalons, hasnt lost a sigle pound or an inch off his measurements. Also he is getting headaches. We all seem to be eating a lot of beans (legumes) have come up with some great meals. But I think he is missing out on the glucose/ sugars that a brain needs to function. Glucose is the brains only food. It cannot burn fat or protein.
What do you think?
Dear Timothy,
I read you book titled „4-hour workweek”. I fully agree that we spend too much time doing nothing and we waste time in office. Of course, sometimes there are more tasks to do than in 4 hours, but we can’t manage our own time.
I post graduated from projects management. I know rules and principles. So I wanted very much my run my own project. First projects I made for my family. One for my father and his clothes company, another for my aunt. Projects objectives were: to launch a new brand for Polish market. In Europe there have been only four agencies. My main activities were: premises adaptation under offices standardization plan, advertising, promotional and information actions.
Everything was fine, so I decided to run sth big. Together with my friend we set up our own business. The scope of work included: building conversion, equipment selection, recruitment process, marketing and administrative matters. In one word – everything. But … I and my friend had a completely different knowledge and experience about business. I will not criticize her in this e-mail as probably the fault lies somewhere in the middle.
I decided to come up with company. But I have two loans from banks. I have worked since I graduated law studies in 2004. Now, I found another, much more better job. Wonderful. But … must be every time some “but”? I terminated the contract of employment with a three-months notice period and I signed another in new place with new employer.
I will be given a certificate of employment and on it will be information about my financial obligations. So, the new employer will see that I made sth wrong.
Solutions are as follow:
1. sell my shares. Who would like to buy my shares? Or a whole company? You can see how it looks like by putting “galija” dot com dot pl. Our beauty parlour works on dermocosmtics from LA, Deramlogica. How to find a person who would like to be an owner of a spa salon in Poznan, Poland?
2. my father looks for an investor for his company or for someone who is interested in sewing clothes for foreign brands.
3. to find a person, some kind of business angel who will sing a contract with me that I sell him a half of my company (or a whole). I will return loans to banks, and on certification of employment will not be any remarks.
Sometimes I wonder what is going on. My father had his company in a small building and we were producing clothes in three shifts, we had a lot of orders and we were selling it in Poland and Europe. My father hired almost 100 people. Then he decided to buy something bigger (sth means building, a better place for such a great number of employees). He found a townhouse. He renovated it completely. Townhouse has three floors. Everything is new. But we lost a lot of customers. Now in my father company work only 8 people.
World crisis. By this two words we can explain everything. Sometimes we should let / leave well alone.
I would be appreciated for you advice.
Maybe observation from another perspective would let to see better solutions?
Do you think I have a chance to find a buyer for my company or investor for my father enterprise?
Sunny regards from the oldest town in Poland,
Paulina
PS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
Dear Tim,
I can’t donate money. I do not have foreign currency bank account. But I have a lot of books (in polish and English), and magazines. Also books for learning English for children. They are new, as I did not use it. I started learning English in high-school. (please shut your eyes to my language mistakes) . I have also notebooks, pencils, pens and coloured pencils. All new.
Very often newlyweds for their wedding instead of flowers ask for something else: donation for children foundation or stationery for children from orphanage.
Last months three young ladies from our district got married. So, instead of flowers we (with my sisters and mum) bought a lot of stationery. We bought too much. So, if the new library needs also copy-books or pencils, books, please let me know.
It amazing what you can do for them. Your attitude is worth to follow.
Sunny regards,
Paulina
Tim, I’m confused, man….. instead of asking me & your other readers for $34 over your blog, we could all be on the beach with you asking us each for $34 THOUSAND dollars! In person! In Mandarin Chinese!!! After we compete in the Argentine Tango World Championship and I beat you in the finals!!! 😛
Is blogging for $34 the most effective way to spread literacy throughout the world, or are you trying to fix the world’s weaknesses instead of emphasizing the world’s strengths??? Come on man it doesn’t have to be lonely at the top!!! It’s equally as lonely here in the middle looking for the most effective way to the top!!!
You had a nice goal for the big 3-4. Build two new schools with your contribution and the $34 contributions from your readers.
What if your goal for your 35th bday was:
Build THIRTY-FIVE new schools using the $35,000 donations from your 35 new NR buddies!! The only rules are those we set for ourselves!!! Hahaha!
Tim, completely unrelated to this blog, but I wanted to get your take on where woman fit into your NR lifestyle and daily decision making. To quote Napoleon Hill in “Think and Grow Rich”:
“Man’s greatest motivating force is his desire to please woman!”
Do you agree with this statement? Any comments on how women affect your decision making?
I CAN GIVE YOU 60 YEARS OF VERIFICATION OF YOUR IDEAS. I HAVE USED COLD AND ISOMETRICS SINCE 1950 AND WAS A PROTEIN FURNACE AND A WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN COMPETITOR IN THE LATE 60S AND EARLY 70S. I GOT RUN OVER AND BADLY BROKEN BY A TRUCK IN 1990. I HAVE BEEN REBUILDING MYSELF SINCE AND AM DELIGHTED TO SEE YOU PUT PROPER NAMES AND NUMBERS TO THINGS THAT I HAVE KNOWN AND DONE, LARGELY THRU INTUITION, IN SPITE OF AN EXTENSIVE ALLOPATHIC EDUCATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO FINISHING THE BOOK AND ALL YOUR OTHER AVAILABLE MATERIAL AND REFERENCES IN ORDER TO BE PROPERLY AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION, SHOULD YOU WANT TO. I AM IN HARTFORD, CT. SHOULD YOU BE IN THE AREA. MY CELLPHONE# IS::
860-508-2750. KEEP UP THE OBSESSIVE GOOD WORK. LEARNING THRU CRAZINESS HAS APPARENTLY BEEN ONE OF MY MOTTOS.
BEST WISHES. DAVID SUMMERSONG
Hi folks,
?”You are not little birdies sitting in the nest with your mouths open to receive half-digested worms of knowledge regurgitated by the faculty. Education is not about content. It is not even about skills. It is a habit or stance of mind. It is not something you have. It is something you are.” (Andrew Abbott: The Aims of Education Address)
This is the best article I have ever read about education:
http://www.inf.fu-berlin.de/lehre/pmo/eng/Abbott-Education.pdf
Best wishes,
Tas
wow! You have a wonderful wish for your birthday Tim! I wish I could join in, but unfortunately I still can’t…but for the moment, I guess I can help out by sending this page to others and even post these on twitter, and maybe others could help out on a donation… God bless you my friend. 😉
Tim,
I love your stuff…started a business with 4hww, lost 15 lbs slow carbin’, but I think that the language in your books is placing an unfortunate ceiling on your credibility. It makes you sound less smart than you obviously are. Your words need to get out to many folks, but when you include obscenities, it takes something from your message. Some may tell me to shove it, but I do feel this way.
Thanks for helping me expand my horizons, and reduce my waistline.
George
I was just wondering if
1. Is Ezekiel bread okay to eat (3 slices a day) for optimal fat loss while lifting?
2. During pregnancy is it a good idea to follow the diet?
Hey Tim, Belated Birthday Greetings!
I live in Africa,
Quite simply education means life!
Great move,… Happy Birthday, getting the work out by FB and mail. I imagine not being able to read like being in a country where you don’t speak a single word of the language. Reading is the basis of communication, it almost belongs to ones senses.
All the best Tim, lets get the books out there.
Dear Tim
Happy birthday! Awesome idea of a birthday present. There are gonna be lots of kids who’ll be better of as a result.
Just a shout out to give a massive thank you for all the work you’ve been doing. For being awesome, stretching yourself to the limit, writing the 4HWW and 4HB. There’s that quote from Marianne Williamson “…as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same..”.
You truly are that person, elevating minds to a higher level and showing what’s possible. After reading 4HWW and seeing the success vids of all those who’ve done it before I know what the way forward is. I haven’t created my muse yet, but I will by the end of the year. Really looking foward to hearing you speak in Melbourne this coming October.
David P
The program is not working for a menopausel 55 yr old woman, very energetic but need to lose 30 lbs. would be extremely happy with 20. Been on two weeks and have seen NO results. I’ve actually gained 2 more lbs!!!!Does anyone have any info that would help? Should I do a more controlled binge day i.e., less carb intake? PLEASE HELP.
Hi Tim. My experience is similar to that of Debbie B (menopausel 55 yr old woman). I’ve been on the prog for 4 weeks now and have lost some fat off everywhere EXCEPT belly and waist (the main areas needing help), so I’m starting to look a little strange now! Please advise us Tim.
Jean,This is a sad commentary, but I actually feel better knowing I’m not the only one. I’m thinking this isn’t for me. Maybe one day when my body is in balance. I think I’m fighting a losing battle!! It’s very frustrating to constantly get contradicting diet advice. I just wish something worked.
Hi Debbie – only you know your body, but why not keep going for a little longer, say at least for one month, before you decide it’s not for you? Since eating this way I feel fitter, more energetic and more flexible – ie less stiff – in my joints etc. I do know my body is full of toxins aquired over the years, so it makes sense that it’s going to take a little time to shift them out of my system, so I’m prepared to be patient and keep going with this. One question – do you eat breakfast within half an hour of waking? That seems to make a difference to resetting the metabolism…
To me, education means self and world improvement.
Thanks, Tim! You Rock! I will gladly help spread the word and donate what I can.
Love to all!
Coren Smith
wish i had put my $28 to Room to Read instead of the 4 hour body…
Sorry you didn’t like the book! It’s only $14 on Amazon.
I am 62 in December and started the program in Mid Feb. I have lost until today, 11/08/11, over 20 kilos.
I have bags of energy and my body looks great (shame about the face). I swim open water now and am back to squash and tennis.
So if anyone has doubts about the routines, don’t have. Stick with it and regain energy.
Good luck to all,
Colin
Hi Tim,
I was just on a plane after visiting a friend who had a serious stroke and I somehow got inspired to write about how to be a reading role model for children since reading has forever nourished my life. Then I read your blog. Your idea is great – libraries are wonderful.
I also want to suggest to people to become reading role models for children.
I wrote this article to share some ideas. I hope you don’t mind the link.
http://thewondertechnique.com/how-to-become-a-reading-role-model-and-change-a-child-forever/
Keep up the great work,
David
Awesome, Tim, and Happy Birthday. I am halfway through being 34 and it has been one of the best years of my life so far without a doubt. I am on day 6 of the slow-carb diet and as of this morning have lost 7 lbs so far without any exercise. I’m impressed. No better motivation than getting off to a good start. Love the event you’ve created, so important to think outside of ourselves. Thank you.
Good Sunday Morning 14 August 2011 from Cairns,
Four days ago, I picked up a copy of 4hww on my way to a conference that I just attended in Sydney, and have been carefully reading it since then. One question and a comment. QUESTION – How would you conceptualize chatting with co-workers {which in your book it would seem you determine to be non-productive and therefore inefficient and needing to be eliminated} in a culture in which such terse limit-setting would be viewed as selfish, not sufficiently other-centered, frankly hostile, and not conducive to any collegial or social onsideration? COMMENT – I agree with many of your ideas, and have on my own come to some of your realizations and adopted many of your productivity-focused uncluttering and personal-dream-goal-setting behaviors, but I believe that your ideas about taking oneself out of the situation is not applicable to a treatment environment such as mine, in which I am the sole psychiatrist in a clinic of eminently capable and competent counselors, in which the notion of not being available to patients is professionally unethical as well as clinically unhelpful. Best, Laura
Since starting 4hb, slow carb diet, I look 8 months pregnant. My previously flat upper abdoman is now huge!, and performing my yoga stretches is uncomfortable, as my swollen gut is in the way. It has only been 4 days, but the enlarged abdoman thing is a real downer. The waist of my previosly loose pants are now tight! What could be wrong? Please advise ASAP, as I’m considering stopping due to my new appearance.
Christine
@ Tim and everyone
I know this is not the right place to post this. I have read ‘Becoming Uberman’ on The Hour Body and am very interested in making this attempt. Considering to try ‘The Everyman 3-Nap’ where I’d sleep for 4 hours total. BUT I am unsure as am only 18 years old and in high school. I thought doing this would shorten my sleep time and, thus I’d be able to do more work. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHETHER I SHOULD ATTEMPT.
Amendment: I’m considering to try ‘The Siesta’ instead because the other methods are unrealistic for a high school student. This is a 6.3hours of sleep and 20mins sleep method. I am nearly at the end of finishing my high school years and thought I’d be great to reduce the amount of sleep using a suitable method, to be able to work more. So is it ok?
Tim’s next venture is a fiction book!!
He’s been reading the book Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field according to his Kindle page:
https://kindle.amazon.com/profile/Timothy-C–Ferriss/1134215
When is the book coming out Tim ?
Hi Tim,
I have a product that debuted at the 2008 Summer Olympic games in front of millions of people but I’m having trouble marketing it here in the US. I’ve followed your principals in the book but I’m hitting a wall. Any advice would be great.
Thx
POST IDEA: in The 4 Hour Body u mentioned Warren Buffet and his 30 second mind rules of thum brought thogether from different desciples, what are yours?
pretty cool idea – what are the results of your birthday present?
Happy Birthday Tim!
Your donation is not that unusual. You’re doing cool things like this all the time.
Awesome man, glad you are taking on this kind of thing. I think it’s true that big problems can be solved by simple things like education but not necessarily easy.
I’ve gotten pretty passionate about these kinds of things the more I age and realize the world around me.
I’m not clear on where to vote. My enthusiastic vote goes to Rachel Rofe.
Happy Birthday have a wonderful year full of celebration and daily opportunity.
At 11 years I could not read then I was lucky to be one of 5 in a reading program. At 15 yrs told not allowed to sit exams as I was not smart enough, motivation that inspired years of learning. I sat 8 exams passed all but the compulsory exam Art, in a system bent towards statistics. There were at least 40 other children denied the opportunity that year, reading is a great start, learning to think, be different, empower and have courage are part of education. ‘Experiments in truth’ Gandhi, inspires me in constructive living, authenticity, knowing the self. Through contrast, failure and what we do not want we learn to expand and find what we do want and education can help us. Wonderfully, I graduated psychology degree 22 years later while working full time and still learning. Volunteered in literacy, education, traveled and like to volunteer in Hawaii with Habitat for Humanity one day soon. I have just bought your book 4 hr work week, loving the material and inspirations. Look forward to more wonderful living. Thanks for the materials. Great gift for many!
Happy Birthday Tim!! 🙂
You’re such an incredible person for doing such an incredible deed. Nothing like giving someone a gift that, not only will last a lifetime, but one that they may then share with others.
You’re fabulous. Keep up the good works. I’m making sure everyone knows about your noble cause through my Facebook page, my Bulletin board at my work (at a university) and through word of mouth.
I missed the date, but what an inspiring story. Thank you for the money you raised to help increase literacy!
Hi Tim,
Did I miss the Top 5
Hi Tim,
Teaching kids to read is my passion. I home school my own 8 kids so I have lots of practice! I have one with Dsylexia. It’s become my passion to use visual thinking games, puzzles and art to teach Dyslexic Kids to read. Last Spring I read 4 HOUR BLOG and realized that Dyslexia Games could be my muse – as well as my little gift to the world. My husband and I seriously followed all your advice and launched the boat August 1st. We are already past stage 2 – selling several sets of workbooks every day! Since we read the book my husband has felt inspired to learn sail-boating- because of the 4 Hour Work Week – He is going on 5 DAY Sailing Boat Race adventure on Lake Michigan… while I stay home with ALL 8 Kids… I’m not sure if I should thank you or not! You should email my husband and tell him that next time he stays home with the 8 kids for 5 days while I go sit on a mountain and play the flute or paint landscapes in Austria. Happy Birthday! Well right now we are looking for ways to capture more sales on our website – 2% to 3% buy.. I know you are a busy guy and you only work 4 hours a week- so I don’t expect to hear from you! Happy Adventures! ~ Sarah
I turn 34 at the end of the month, happy belayed birthday.
No one can really deny that education/learning means everything to all of us. It’s basically one of the foundations in molding or improving your personality. Of course, learning can be done in different ways: and it usually starts in the logic of ‘question and answer’ process. And yes, we humans really can’t be satisfied easily with just answers and we tend to explore more through reading, or we learn through experience. Reading is a must.
Anyway… This is really a great project. I wish most of the people could think of this, especially those who are more fortunate.
Since my birthday is fast approaching I have also been thinking of what gifts I might be receiving on that very special day. Years have passed by and I have held different gifts in my hands. Now, I have been thinking on another level. After reading your blog, I got struck by your ideas of helping other people especially children who are not given the chance to learn reading. Here in the philippines a lot of children are deprived from education. I am challenged by your views and I want to be given the opportunity to be like you. I want everyone to make you there example.
What a great way to get back and be grateful of the fortunate life you live! I cannot also imagine kids not having been able to read or even hold a book in their hands. No matter how poor and unfortunate these kids are, education should not be deprived from them. They hold as much a right to education as we school-bred kids are. We cannot take that away from them. Though we are not filthy rich ourselves, as members of civil society, we should have the social consciousness to help those who are in a lesser state than we are.
As the Dalai Lama have said, what makes us human is our compassion for others. And surely you are a human being!
as i read your blog, you are really a good person with a good heart. i was really touched and impressed with your blog by sharing your idea of what you wanted for your birthday. education for me is really important because as my parents said, education is the only thing they could give to me that it can never be taken away from me. so for you to think of spending your money in a good way by making a library to kids who are deprived with education and sharing to other people your idea to earn big funds well i think it’s really a wonderful birthday gift if your wish will be granted many children will be happy. bravo! I’m happy to read your blog it opens my mind to help some poor children in my own little way.
I am so disappointed that I have read this only today. But having read what you will do ( and I assume that it has been done already), I have been deeply touched with your actions. Being and Asian and having traveled to several Southeast Asian countries myself, I have seen the horrors that poverty can do to an individual, and even families. This is the reason why I have vowed to myself that I will be involved in development projects in the future, when I am given the opportunity. (I hope this would be soon though).
Kudos to you for making this world a better place!
This is how everyone should spend their birthdays, giving instead of receiving. People would often sat, “It’s my birthday so I should be the one receiving,” but what they often forgot is that having to celebrate another year of their life is more than enough of a gift than any other tangible things that money can buy. Having to spend another good year of life would be very rewarding knowing that you spent this making someone else’s life a better one.
I love what you want to do,and i know that we can’t help everyone,but that simple gesture of kindness would change someones life in the future…
What a good heart you have! Pure and generous. If only all people have the same heart as you have…we don’t have to be rich to help people in need.
This is a new way of giving gift to one’s self. You got a nice heart for the children and the poor. People should also realize that being happy is not just satisfying own self but also seeing other people happy because you satisfied them.
indeed! there is no future without education. thanks for the kindness for our children who haven’t experience reading books. i am not fun of reading but this article triggers me to do so. 🙂 Education for me is a social status. i believe there are opportunities outside if one came from the four corners of the classroom. its not that we are not capable anymore if we can’t afford going to school but the thing is that it is a social requirements. anyway, i love the way how you celebrated you’re birthday. God Bless You!
That was an awesome way to celebrate your birthday! 🙂 I wonder how great it would be if there’d be more people that would celebrate their birthdays like you do. Your idea of raising funds to teach illiterate people how to read and write would really be beneficial especially to those people living in poor countries where education (sad to say) is a privilege and not a right.
Education really plays a huge role in your success especially here in the Philippines wherein you are required to earn a diploma before you could get a decent job with a decent pay. Above all, education and your knowledge is the only thing that cannot be stolen from you. 🙂
Thumbs up to you, Tim! 🙂
Reading means dreaming: dreaming of a new tool, dreaming of a better world, dreaming of our future profession, dreaming of something fantastic. It also means learning, I learned English through reading ( I started with archie, Betty and Veronica, hihi! ). Reading means knowledge of other cultures.
I adore this project Tim, because I think books are specially important for children. Kids are tomorrow’s leaders and they need to enjoy being kids and be able to dream and learn while holding a book in their hands.